These electromagnetic anomalies are likely caused by stresses in rocks deep underground similar to the phenomenon that occurs when piezoelectric materials are put under stress. As stresses build up before a quake, similarly EM anomalies ought to be detectable beforehand, thus detecting them early could give people enough forewarning for them to seek safety.
I don't know whether satellites are ideal or are sensitive enough (because of their distance from the ground) for this kind of earthquake prediction but over the years there have been significant numbers of terrestrially-bound observations of electrical/electromagnetic disturbances occurring before a quake happens to suggest the phenomenon ought to be fully investigated.
These EM anomalies have been the subject of a news report in an earlier HN story and I made a suggestion then that until the science was fully established that the Amateur Radio Service could be of possible assistance.
Amateur radio operators could perhaps establish a worldwide network to monitor and or detect changes in the EM field on, say, an ultra low frequency band (below the AM broadcast band) as it's likely the most suitable. I'd envisage Amateurs operating a network of CW TXes and signature changes in their carrier signals would act as the early warnings.
This could be done as a separate Amateur operation (national operations—RSGB, ARRL, WIA, etc. and or through the IARU), or in conjunction with various government agencies, IPS (Ionospheric Prediction Services), etc.
The advantage of using the Amateur Service or including it with government operations (which at the outset would be small) is that many more monitoring points could be established quickly. Moreover, given the science is not well established, it's unlikely governments would fund a large network early on. That's where Amateurs come in, by contrast, the cost of establishing an Amateur network would be minimal and would grow organically (as Amateurs are inherently flexible).
I don't know whether satellites are ideal or are sensitive enough (because of their distance from the ground) for this kind of earthquake prediction but over the years there have been significant numbers of terrestrially-bound observations of electrical/electromagnetic disturbances occurring before a quake happens to suggest the phenomenon ought to be fully investigated.
These EM anomalies have been the subject of a news report in an earlier HN story and I made a suggestion then that until the science was fully established that the Amateur Radio Service could be of possible assistance.
Amateur radio operators could perhaps establish a worldwide network to monitor and or detect changes in the EM field on, say, an ultra low frequency band (below the AM broadcast band) as it's likely the most suitable. I'd envisage Amateurs operating a network of CW TXes and signature changes in their carrier signals would act as the early warnings.
This could be done as a separate Amateur operation (national operations—RSGB, ARRL, WIA, etc. and or through the IARU), or in conjunction with various government agencies, IPS (Ionospheric Prediction Services), etc.
The advantage of using the Amateur Service or including it with government operations (which at the outset would be small) is that many more monitoring points could be established quickly. Moreover, given the science is not well established, it's unlikely governments would fund a large network early on. That's where Amateurs come in, by contrast, the cost of establishing an Amateur network would be minimal and would grow organically (as Amateurs are inherently flexible).